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Thursday, 9 July 2015

For Now Or Forever (Angry Hourglass)

The boat is already waiting, close to the bank, with the
water lapping, as Cara approaches the edge.
As she puts a foot on board it sways slightly as her weight disturbs its
easy equilibrium. The rope tethering the
vessel swings in accompaniment.

“What are you?” she murmurs, looking into the bleached face
with its dark pupil-less eyes beneath wispy strands of white hair; looking
through the skin itself, where objects behind it display themselves.

“Pay up or hop off,” the girl interjects. “Others ‘ll be waiting. ‘Tis not my matter when women wish to
wander. Though we’d call it wasteful
when we’re all wanting ‘n wishing for farther in..”

“We?” Cara asks.

The young girl shakes her head quickly. “What may be – as well as what was once,
though but half-formed; what should be, should circumstance allow.”

“Large thoughts for one so little,” Cara says, brow
creased. “Do you know what they mean?”

“Do you?” the girl retorts.
“Since my fare’s still owing?
Will we journey - or will you bide by the Styx? Your choice; where others have little hope of
it.” After a pause, “You must be dead,
you know. By definition. I’d be
dead too by now, if I could.”

“Would you?” Cara asks, shortly followed by, “Sorry? What?”

“You’ll understand, in a while. ‘Tis not for me to say.”

“Isn’t it, though?” Cara asks. “Is there no choice in anything for the Never
Weres? Or is that Never Ares? Do you yourselves distinguish between the
two? If not – shouldn’t you?” She lets out a quick breath.

Somewhat to my surprise this week, this story won! I received some nice praise from the week's judge (see here - along with comments concerning a strong round of stories generally) That makes me this week's Flash Master!